Like many, I am fascinated with the formula for SUCCESS. I realize that success has different meanings depending on the source. However, for the sake of this piece I am simply looking to understand a formula for living with purpose, resulting in something being produced, fueled by passion, and challenges our potential.

Simply stated, success might be be defined as living purposely to produce an outcome motivated by passion to realize our potential.

Isn’t this why we pour hours of energy into a sport, career, relationship, hobby?

Are we not truly desiring to have purpose and intention in our living?

Do we not want to see results from our efforts in the form of some outcome?

Are we not trying to live with passion and motivation so we can sustain ourselves through the challenging times?

Are we not also curious about what we are capable of and truly seek to tap into the deep potential that lives often latently in the depths of our being?

I want to suggest that there are 3 C’s that can propel us to this end.

First, is COURAGE. I really believe that removing unfounded fear and living courageously is at the center of fulfillment, purpose and achievement. Regardless of what you are striving for at some point courage will be necessary. Whether we are looking to improve a relationship, performance at a job, improve our grades in school, or let go of a dream to cultivate a new one, COURAGE IS PART OF THE SUCCESS FORMULA.

Second, CHALLENGE. Challenge is like the weight room of life. It is here where you face your limitations and train past them. When you are engaged in a well grounded strength training program limits and resistance are used to grow strength and endurance. Aren’t we all looking for strength and endurance in our lives? We MUST EMBRACE THE CHALLENGES IN OUR LIVES!! When we do so with wisdom these challenges can be transformed into strength and endurance. Success is often achieved through the expression of strength and endurance as seen in commitment and persistence.

Third, CONTENTMENT. This one will most certainly come as a shock to many. In this ELITISM SOCIETY where being EXCEPTIONAL is often looked at as the norm, NORMAL HAS NOW BECOME SEEN AS DEFECTIVE. Success for most of us will reside in living with a healthy contentment knowing that we did the best we could have. There is nothing wrong with being content with your best even if your best was at the low end of the norm. I see many knocking themselves out to pursue exceptional and elite status at the expense of their own well being with no real hope of ever reaching exceptional status. I have to thank my mentor, Micheal Anderson L.P. and co-author of the book GIST The Essence of Raising Life-Ready Kids, for this concept.

COURAGE, CHALLENGE and CONTENTMENT. 3 C’s that provide a framework for us to intentionally live with purpose and deep fulfillment as we navigate through the many experiences that we will encounter in life. I urge you to take these 3 C’s and activate them in your life.

Many people I care about and love are in the midst of significant life challenges! You might be one of those in the midst of a significant challenge.

These challenges could be best described as “being in a war.” The challenge never seems to let up. No matter which way you turn, there it is seemingly waiting to torment and therefore, torture you. It is said that when we face challenges of this intensity we come face to face with our true self.

I have to be honest and admit that the intensity of some of the challenges I am seeing go beyond a “problem to be solved.” Truthfully, a problem would be far preferred than a challenge. Problems can often be solved through advanced thinking, surrender and increased support. Challenges seem to dig at our humanity, value system, spirituality, and in some cases, our very existence. They force us to quickly assess our emotional, social, spiritual, and at times, financial resources.

How are we to respond when faced with a challenge(s) of this magnitude?

Whatever threatens our health, well being, family, security, and certainty is a real challenge. When life is at its best the strength of these arenas allow us to LIVE WITH DAILY CONTENTMENT. Once they are threatened then our life feels like it us under attack.

A bad doctors report puts the vision for tomorrow in question.

The loss of a job brings deep uncertainty of how to cover our financial responsibilities.

When one of our children or another loved one is struggling we are often faced with fear about what might happen.

Suffice it to say any of our lives could come under attack at anytime and without warning.

These challenges are REAL. They Require Encouragement And Love. (REAL)

CHALLENGES that shake us at our foundation demand the ASSEMBLING of an ARMY. No one goes to battle intelligently without an army. Armies have one thing they focus on…WINNING THE BATTLE.

We all need an army! A group of people that stand with us, fight for us and, without hesitation, go to war on our behalf.

What troubles me are the battles that people are fighting without their own personal army.

Armies compound courage in one another. BEING IN THE FIGHT WITH SOMEONE ELSE HELPS US TO FIND HOPE, COURAGE, STRENGTH, and FAITH IN THE BATTLE. Some of the challenges we face do not have any quick and certain answers. Maybe, the presence of a challenge forces us to GET OUTSIDE OF OURSELVES and LEAN INTO OTHER SOLDIERS borrowing their strength, hope and courage even if just for a season.

To those of you under attack because of a seemingly insurmountable challenge, I URGE YOU TO ASSEMBLE YOUR ARMY.

Many challenges appear to have no answers even though we chase answers with diligence and often desperation.

Unfortunately, to many people the thought of possessing this type of confidence left long ago. It could be that a significant relationship with a coach, teacher, parent or friend sabotaged that dream. As a result we often tolerate, make excuses and position our lives to insure that we protect ourselves from a sense of failure or discouragement in order to never deal with our utter and complete lack of confidence.

For these reasons this is the day I invite you to engage in the CONFIDENCE CHALLENGE!

Simply stated I want to challenge you to PURSUE a more powerful and sustainable confidence.

For over 18 years I have been coaching thousands of athletes and without question when I ask, “What is the one thing you want to work on?” the response 90 percent of the time is “More CONFIDENCE!”

WHY ARE SO MANY OF US LACKING CONFIDENCE?

ANSWER

Because so many of us are TRADING COMFORT for CONFIDENCE.

It seems that comfort has become the desired lifestyle pursuit for many.

However, this trade is coming at a GREAT PRICE. The price is our CONFIDENCE IN OUR CAPACITY TO CREATIVELY and RESOURCEFULLY lean into challenges, obstacles, adversity, and uncertainty and learn of our untapped CAPACITY. If we are to establish and strengthen a DEEP ABIDING BELIEF in ourselves we MUST NOT ONLY MEET THESE CHALLENGES BUT EMBRACE THEM. There are not enough AFFIRMATIONS, POSITIVE THOUGHTS or WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT from others that can match the deep belief that forms when we FACE and grow through these natural life challenges.

The fear of failure is epidemic in today’s society.

Many of us parents get anxious about the possibility of our kids failing, so much so, that we put up barriers in the form of making excuses, nagging and over compensating to insure they WILL NOT EXPERIENCE FAILURE. This pattern robs young people the platform to embrace challenge, work through struggle and construct the framework for TRUE and ABIDING CONFIDENCE.

RESULT:

A COMPLETE AND UTTER LACK OF INTERNAL RESOURCES AND SKILLS TO MANAGE THE VERY ELEMENTS THAT WILL RESULT IN CONFIDENCE.

This is a challenge to embrace. Joyfully engage in the big and small challenges that life brings your way daily. The challenge of generating the motivation to get a workout in, to courageously put words to your experiences or simply give your best to something all while letting go of the FEAR OF FAILING will result in growing confidence.

When the possibility of disappointment, discouragement and failure exists this is where your greatest opportunity to learn and grow also exists.

Lets stop choosing the path of least resistance and start choosing the paths of GREATEST POSSIBILITIES. This is where the true treasure of deeply embedded confidence is found.

Have you ever given thought to the connection between ATTENTIVE CONSISTENCY and SUCCESS?

What I mean by ATTENTIVE CONSISTENCY is the continual capacity to give quality focus and concentration to a pre-determined priority; gaining a deeper and deeper understanding with each days focus. This is very similar to immersing yourself for a period of time in something you have a deep passion for or has significance to you. Examples of ATTENTIVE CONSISTENCY could include a relationship, hobby, business, sport, or even yourself.

But there is a problem.

I believe many of us are missing out on the deep joy and sense of fulfillment that accompanies the capacity to fully engage in and consistently focus on important priorities. We are often lured away from this type of experience because of multiple distractions. I define a distraction as anything that interrupts the flow of our attention.

Ask yourself this question: What is the length of time I can give quality focus and concentration to a pre-determined priority without being internally or externally interrupted?

How do we BREAK THE STRONG CHAINS OF DISTRACTION? How do we train ourselves to experience times of flow where we sustain our focus more often and with greater endurance?

Before I give some thoughts on this topic I want to say that there are many that have attentional challenges. The thoughts I want to put forth place no judgement on those attentional challenges or the means in which they are managing them.

First, I want to say that there are (3) distraction busters that have served me extremely well. None of these are quick fixes but if practiced consistently can strengthen our capacity to focus immensely over time.

1. Meditation: Until recently, I would not have included this because I had no experience with this practice. It seemed a bit “cheesy” to be honest. However, I decided I was going to build an internal library of EXPERIENCE rather than uneducated opinion. I was pleasantly enlightened by the results I found when I took just 10 minutes to quiet myself and my mind. Initially I found it difficult to SLOW DOWN enough to even get through a meditation session without immense distraction. Over time, I have found myself with incredible capacity to stay centered and calm despite a whirlwind of chaos around me. I am sold on the benefits of this practice. HEADSPACE is the app I use and the TAKE 10 challenge is very helpful.

2. Journaling: I have found writing to be incredibly helpful for taking internal confusion and producing crystal clarity. Sound helpful tips: In the morning identify **one word** that defines the way you want to “show up” in the world. Write a paragraph as to why, allowing yourself only 5 minutes to write. This is a great way to start your day. Another tip is to pose a question to yourself at the end of the day, What challenged me today? What did I learn? Again take 5-10 minutes to write. Most people get overwhelmed by the thought of writing pages and pages. This is unnecessary in my opinion.

3. Exercise: The benefits to being active are too numerous to count. Needless to say when we stay active we are able to fuel our minds with what it needs to focus. It is important that you know that I am not necessarily talking about the WORKOUTS of athletes, although they are helpful as well. Going on a 30 minute walk, moving around the house in between tasks is also helpful. JUST DO NOT SIT FOR TOO LONG WITHOUT MOVING.

DISTRACTIONS are blinding! They entice us to pay attention to information that is of little to no long term value. Those of us that are CONSTANTLY CHASING THE LATEST SHORT TERM FAD are often lacking the ability to track the life stories of those closest to them leaving the relationship bankrupt of deep connection.

IF you are looking to be enlightened with the wonder of strengthened focus and concentration make a commitment to one of the three DISTRACTION BUSTERS above.

Post your most common distractions in the comments below and which of the distraction busters you are going to implement today!

DO YOU FIND YOURSELF CONSTANTLY WAITING FOR SOMETHING BETTER TO COME UP?

DO YOU SEEM TO KEEP REPEATING THE SAME CHALLENGES IN YOUR LIFE?

DO YOU FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GIVE OF YOURSELF COMPLETELY TO A PURSUIT OR PERSON?

DO YOU GET FRUSTRATED THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU CAN TRUST?

If these are some of your experiences then this blog might give you a new perspective to create change and movement.

At first sight you may look at the title of today’s writing and have to spend a couple seconds thinking about it. However, I wrote the title purposely. I want to have a look at commitment and challenge you to re-think how you see this rich and vital concept.

I think it is safe to say that we are in the FOMO generation (Fear Of Missing Out). I hear with consistency the phrase, “I do not want to commit to ________; something better might come up that I do not want to miss out on.” I believe the effects of this mindset are destroying the quality of our relationships, work and sport. We have become obsessed, controlled by and addicted to the possibility of spontaneous euphoria.

I believe that we are paying a HUGE price with the FOMO framework. It may not be a surprise to hear that the riches and deeply impactful life experiences that lead to fulfillment, long standing joy, confidence, and self-definition are born from being FULLY INVESTED, IMMERSED and COMMITTED for the long haul.

How do we ever do more than simply troll above the surface of existence if we live for what “might come up?”

I am concerned that we will struggle to build teams, social work cultures and families if we do not start COMMITTING TO COMMITMENT. The psychological safety required to work fully self expressed and together in teams has been identified as a KEY FACTOR in propelling teams to play at high levels; often out performing “A” players living with different group dynamics. When people committing to one another appears to be a thing of the past, it is no wonder why so many are afraid of rejection, hurt, isolation, to name a few. The results are people playing small, scared and without creativity and joy.

If we want to touch the rim of EXCELLENCE, FULFILLMENT, DEEP JOY, MASTERY,

AND UNSHAKABLE CONFIDENCE I believe we need to COMMIT TO COMMITMENT.

Living life eventually brings us to many cross roads. In sports the competition will eventually show us our lack of mastery, in business we will most definitely hit our lid, in relationships we will for sure hit a point of struggle. No matter what the arena we will be exposed and this is a good thing. It is at this point we can decide about GROWING or LEAVING. Growth requires COMMITMENT and leaving will often result in us returning to the same cross road facing the same decision again. (there are most certainly times when it is the right thing to move on).

I want to respectfully challenge you to put COMMITTING to COMMITMENT as your strategy for growth and life fulfillment. Doing so compels you to fully invest yourself, immerse yourself, and be diligent in your pursuit of those things that you bring your best to AND you also become your best through.

Let’s terminate the FOMO framework and realize that there are pursuits, passions and people that deserve and require us to COMMIT to in order for the good stuff to come forth.

Let me know in the comments below what you are going to commit to today.

I can detail at least five different GREATNESS SEEKING visions I have been chasing. In fact, the still small voice within often torments me concerning the minimal, if any, progress I have made with regard to these worthy pursuits.

I believe there are countless NOBLE and GAME CHANGING VISIONS that have died on the seat of PROCRASTINATION. Have you ever wondered to yourself where your life would be if just one of these visions actually became reality? Have you ever taken the time to assess the OPPORTUNITIES and QUALITY of life LOSS that is simply the by product of the inability to muster the willpower, motivation or discipline to see these through to reality?

This is a very personal writing for me. I have battled with procrastination most of my life. One day as I was talking with a colleague about a project, he was courageous enough to give me the feedback that his level of trust in my ability to see this project through was small. When I asked him to expand on this idea he said, “Shaun you are creative, ambitious, and very good at what you do. However, very few of your ideas actually go from seed to tree.” Rather than this being a painful and personalized comment, I reflected and realized he was correct. Since that time I have learned three very powerful lessons and I’ll share them with you.

First, I am taking more time to test ideas within myself before I share them with others. In other words I want to make sure what I share is what I am committed to following through on. Often times I have haphazardly shared an impulsive idea believing at the moment that it was GREAT. I realized after testing the idea that it was more of a single cloud in the sky rather than the beginning of a thunderstorm of synergy.

Second, I have learned to share ideas with trusted advisors before taking the time to pour copious amounts of time and energy into them. These advisors are good at asking questions that reveal things that I may never think about. This forces me to flesh out the ideas in greater detail. This usually adds energy and motivation or completely strips it. Both are important.

Third, I have applied the STARTING IS HALF DONE principle. Most of the projects that draw me out and ask the most of me and demand me to grow, learn, and challenge myself. All of these dynamics erect walls of doubt, excuses and time management disasters. I now know that the greatest challenge is STARTING. When I was challenged to create a calendar of content to write about for 52 weeks I simply committed to coming up with ten. One hour later I had written 52. On days when energy seems scarce I start with putting on my workout clothes and STARTING. When writing scripts for on-line programs I write on one concept at a time. In each of these cases I am trying to stay present in what I know I can accomplish without getting in my own way before I even START. I hope this highlights the importance of SIMPLY STARTING.

Taking initial action sparks a wonderful cascade of creativity, energy and vision as well as, momentum towards an idealized vision. I have found that this also propels me forward with less effort.

If you have a number of visions, intentions, dreams, or aspirations that are on the proverbial shelf take some time and ask yourself these questions, “What if the GAME CHANGING IDEA, VISION, or INTENTION that is a GAME CHANGER is already present and right in front of me? What might happen if I simply STARTED and saw where it went from there.” You might be SHOCKED as to what vision becomes reality.

As for me, I am committed to becoming increasingly trustworthy with the inspired, creative and potentially game changing ideas and visions that are forming within. Join me in this worthy and powerful cause.

To take the first step in learning to “get started” in your daily life by reserving time with me to discover your High Performance Strategies! Click here to schedule now!

Discovering purpose can be very challenging. This might be because we have a predetermined idea of what it means to have a purpose by generating an image of a hero like Martin Luther King, Gandhi or someone we have come to admire because of the mark they have made on the world and our lives. These people certainly lived with a purpose that drove them to commit their lives to their message.

For the sake of this article I would like to suggest that we can create many multiple applications of purpose. It doesn’t have to be an all-encompassing, immersive, commitment-rich passion we invest our entire lives in (although it could). What I am referring to is living each day and moment with an intention to BE PURPOSEFUL.

In other words, FULL OF PURPOSE.

This can be anything from meeting the challenges of our day believing that we will grow strength, resilience and a deep sense of confidence by doing so, or intentionally engaging in our routine tasks and responsibilities with a purpose we generate in the moment.

My point is that the power of purpose is not reserved only for the world’s leaders.

Living with daily intention and purpose is for ALL OF US regardless of what we are doing.

I LEARNED THIS POWERFULLY while I was in college. My freshman year my first day of class I met KEITH. Keith was the building maintenance manager (we referred to him as the janitor in my day). He made my day that first morning while cleaning a bathroom. He smiled at me and said, “God has big things in store for you. This is the first day of you uncovering what that looks like. Have a great day, Shaun”. He got to know hundreds of students by name. This encounter with a purpose-filled man has not been lost on me for over 30 years. In fact, I went to hours and hours of classes and cannot remember anything that rivals that strong of a memory.

Unfortunately, I believe that many live daily with little to no purpose because they are waiting for purpose to come upon them rather than committing to LIVE PURPOSELY and create it in the moment. The PURPOSE THAT MOTIVATES is the purpose that means something to you! That day 30 years ago Keith lived with purpose by deciding to make a difference in the life of a scared, unsure and overwhelmed freshman. Not only did he live this way that day but every time I witnessed him working I saw him do the same thing with other students all four years I was there. I came to realize later he had lived that way for 25 years.

Take the time each day to live in a manner that matters to you!

This is the secret to the purpose that motivates.

Take it from me I will forever be grateful for KEITH and his purposeful living.

To take the first step in learning to generate this type of purpose in your daily life, you can begin by reserving time with Shaun to discover your High Performance Strategies! Click here to start!